A banned driver who led police on a chase onto the motorway was caught with a fearsome array of weapons in his car.
Officers were called to Newquay Close in Brookvale, Runcorn, at around 7.30pm on Sunday, July 18, over reports Ashley Wright, 38, had threatened a woman and her family with a weapon before fleeing in a blue Audi A3.
All police in the area received an alert to look out for the car and it was soon spotted on Greenhouse Farm Road a short distance away.
The officers who caught sight of the vehicle were from Cheshire’s Roads and Crime Unit and set off in pursuit.
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They tried to stop the car but Wright, of April Close, Manchester, sped off and led his pursuers on a chase through Runcorn and onto the M56 motorway.
The pursuit came to a stop near junction 7 at Bowden on the outskirts of Altrincham, and Wright was pulled from the car and arrested.
A search of the car uncovered an axe, baton, knuckle duster, two mobile phones and a “large quantity” of cannabis.
Wright was charged and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving disqualified, driving without insurance, criminal damage, possession with intent to supply class C drugs and two counts of possession on an offensive weapon.
Wright, of April Close, Manchester, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
He was also banned from driving for three years and seven months and will be required to undertake an extended retest.
Inspector Anton Sullivan, of the Cheshire Police Roads and Crime Unit, said: “ Wright is clearly a dangerous individual and I welcome the sentence that has been handed him.
“Not only did he threaten a vulnerable woman and her family, but he also led officers on a dangerous pursuit, showing no regard for those around him.
“However, he was no match for our specially trained officers and it was only a matter of time before he was brought to a stop and put before the courts.”
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